
They say it takes 10,000 hours to master an art.
Spud is incredibly good at catching treats. I don’t know how many I’ve thrown at him over the years to achieve this skill, but given that he once went 1.5kg overweight (he got a Kim Kardashian butt) we could very well have gotten close to 10,000.
When learning something new, the trick is to enjoy the process and not focus on the end goal. This is a frame of mind I’ve been instilling when I’ve been painting landscapes, and Ollie too when he’s faced deep water for the first time – you’ll find more about that when you read on.
So, if you’re learning something new, remember that getting good at something takes time. Imagine you are an ex-street dog with no-coordination and a piece of dry kibble is flying straight between your eyes… go get ’em tiger!
However, despite feeling like a salmon swimming upstream, I’ve definitely been engaging in some restful and calming activities recently. I went on an all women’s overnight camping retreat with Anna from Wanderwoman (if you’re local to Edinburgh look her up!) and then I’ve been practicing floral displays for the wedding with my mum (The Packing Elf, see pic below). All foraged flowers of course!
Lastly, Juan and I took my 90 year old Great Aunt for lunch as part of a family birthday present. Spud came too because she’s got an absolute soft spot for him!

Slow down, you’re doing fine…
My biggest lesson over the last few years has been learning how to slow down.
I blame my parents, who have speed and efficiency down to a fine art. Even the simple act of filling the car up at the petrol station on a long journey is executed with the agility of a formula 1 racing team.
Their method, before you ask: Dad starts filling the car with petrol while simultaneously mum runs in to start queuing at the till and watches out the window so that the second that tank is full she’s ready to swipe her card.
Smart, sure. But you can imagine the culture shock for my mediterranean fiance when he met my family – he comes from a country where resting is actively encouraged whereas my mum starts hoovering if you dare take a nap and my dad starts playing the killers at full volume if you ever sleep in past 8am.
However, despite feeling like a salmon swimming upstream, I’ve definitely been engaging in some restful and calming activities recently. I went on an all women’s overnight camping retreat with Anna from Wanderwoman (if you’re local to Edinburgh look her up!) and then I’ve been practicing floral displays for the wedding with my mum (The Packing Elf, see pic below). All foraged flowers of course!
Lastly, Juan and I took my 90 year old Great Aunt for lunch as part of a family birthday present. Spud came too because she’s got an absolute soft spot for him!


I did a landscape! At just 6.5×6.5cm it’s a great size for me to be able to get lots of practice in. With the economy looking rather dicey at the moment, smaller artwork is definitely where I’m going to be putting the focus.
I have two shows coming up: Scone Game Fair 1-3rd July (find me in the 3d/2d tent) and then Turiff in Aberdeen 30 & 31st July.
I’ve been creating new artworks for them including ‘Fancy Footwork’ which I’ve just got back from the framers (see below)
I also have decided that this summer I’d like to start running workshops in my studio, where you can come and have a relaxed drawing and painting session with me and the dogs.
You don’t have to be ‘good’ at art. If you’re not confident at drawing I can help you and you can focus on the colouring in! If this is something you’d be up for do keep an eye out on social media and in my next newsletter for all the info!
And finally… since wedding season is upon us, a reminder you can always find prints and products on my website which make lovely gift ideas, as well as pet portraits which can be a great pressie idea to club together with friends for.


You saw it here first! Ollie swam in the sea… well, if you can call bouncing up and down on the sea floor ‘swimming’.
The sea was quite a rough place to take him for a first proper swim – he spent of the time getting tossed about like a sock in a washing machine with the expression of a startled otter plastered on his face. But hopefully now his confidence is up we may get some doggy paddle out of him when we go out to somewhere calmer!
But it’s a huge improvement. When we first got Ollie, he hated even the feel of water on his legs and would always do his best to avoid it. However, over the year we have had him I’ve been working on building up a positive relationship between him and water.
I can’t explain to him that he will be able to swim, I just have to encourage him until he figures it out.
Enjoy the photos below…
What a fun newsletter this was! It’s crazy how much content builds up over two weeks and I get to select the best bits for this newsletter – remember you get exclusive insights here that you don’t get to see on instagram. Speaking of instagram… I am back on there! After chats with my family and many messages from you guys telling me you missed your daily #spollie videos (which I also missed documenting) I have returned – so make sure you add me as a favourite so the dogs keep coming up on your newsfeed 🙂 See you in two weeks! And please feel free to tag me in any pics on insta when you’re reading this newsletter – I get such a buzz when you do! Tori xxx |